10 of the Best Brunch Spots in Oakland
Brunch in Oakland is a BIG deal. All across Oaktown on Saturdays and Sundays, you see lines flowing out the doors of cafes like Aunt Mary’s Café and Brown Sugar Kitchen.
The East Bay’s famous foodie culture wakes up bright and early on weekends, serving up everything from pork belly hash to buttermilk chicken and waffles.
Bottomless mimosas? Check. Eggs benedict and thick, smokey bacon? Check. Wasabi bloody Mary? Of course!
We’ve rounded up 10 of Oakland’s top brunch spots and found something for everyone – whether you are looking for a cozy spot for a lazy morning, a special restaurant for a family holiday brunch, or a greasy breakfast hangover cure to launch your Sunday Funday with friends.
Happy brunching!
Brown Sugar Kitchen
Chef Tanya Holland’s take on soul food will knock your socks off. Her buttermilk fried chicken and cornmeal waffles, served with with brown sugar butter and apple cider syrup, draw brunch-seekers from all over the Bay Area. 2295 Broadway, Oakland
Mama’s Royal Café
For a casual retro diner vibe, head to Mama’s Royal Café in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood. The coffee shop is under new ownership after the longtime owner retired, but little else has changed. The full menu is long, like the weekend lines. Head there early to avoid the crowds. 4012 Broadway, Oakland
The Gastropig
“Baconslut.” In a word, that’s Gastropig. Seriously, people drive from San Francisco and beyond for this restaurant’s Baconslut sandwich with thick applewood smoked bacon, egg, cheddar, and smokey aoli on a brioche roll. Located in Uptown, Gastropig is considered a fast casual counter service establishment and generally doesn’t take reservations. But call ahead if you have a large party (10+), because they might let you take over the communal table. 2123 Franklin St., Oakland
Aunt Mary’s Café
Aunt Mary’s Café had us worried when they closed their doors recently, but fortunately they just relocated down the street on Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal neighborhood. We love Aunt Mary’s creative and seasonal specials like persimmon pancakes with cranberry maple compote and huevos benedictos with cheddar masa cakes, mole, and house-made beef chorizo. We also love Aunt Mary’s new online wait list. You can use the Yelp app to check wait times and get in line virtually. 4640 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Beauty’s Bagel Shop
This one is a bit of a cheat because they don’t actually serve “brunch.” They do, however, serve incredible bagels and coffee all day at their Temescal and Downtown locations. Their wood-fired “Montreal style” bagels are fluffy and savory. And you can preorder latkes each December! Only the location in Temescal is open on weekends. 3838 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Chop Bar
In true Chop Bar fashion, the chef here takes brunch and steps it up a notch. The menu includes dishes like the pork belly and Fiscalini cheddar omelette, house-made trout gravlax, and Acme French toast. Due to its popularity, the Chop Bar moved to a larger location in the summer of 2019. 190 4th St., Oakland
Portal
Bottomless mimosas! Views of Lake Merritt! What more do you want? Note that the brunch menu isn’t particularly pancake/waffle/kid-friendly. But diners rave about the challah French toast stuffed with caramelized fruit and ricotta, as well as the stromboli-like “garbage bread.” 1611 2nd Ave., Oakland
Lakeshore Café
Lakeshore Café serves delicious and classic brunch dishes. When the weather is good, sitting outside is especially fun during the Saturday farmer’s market, when the people watching is prime. 3257 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
Sister
One of our all-time favs, Boot and Shoe Service, closed and reopened as Sister, which does a fresh, healthy take on brunch. It really doesn’t get any more California than this: savory porridge with braised greens, soft cooked egg and sunflower seed furikake; buckwheat waffles with kombucha creme fraiche; and fritatta with pickles and aioli. 3308 Grand Ave., Oakland
Caffe 817
Located in historic old town, Caffe 817 is a low-key Oakland brunch spot with an artsy European café vibe. You’ll always find the walls vibrantly decorated with pieces by local artists. Yelpers rave about the coffee, avocado toast, and polenta with poached egg. Homemade jam and granola are for sale to take home or gift. 817 Washington St., Oakland
Of course there are so many other excellent brunch spots in Oakland, we feel a tad bad limiting it to just 10. If we missed your favorite, leave a comment below.
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